UCLA’s search for a new defensive coordinator has been moving slower than the Cavs’ quest for a win. Two weeks ago, we said a deal with former Miami coach Randy Shannon was close to being done, but it was never finalized. Coach Rick Neuheisel continued to interview candidates for the job and it appeared as if he was going to hire Rocky Seto.
Seto coached on Pete Carroll’s staff at USC and is currently on the Seahawks’ staff. He reportedly was offered the defensive coordinator job and shared the news with the Daily Trojan, USC’s student newspaper. This upset UCLA for two reasons: one, he leaked word before the Bruins had a chance to make an official announcement. Two, I’m told this confirmed fears that Seto might be too much of a loose-lipped guy, and his ties to the USC community gave the Bruins pause.
Seto ultimately used poor judgment with what was sensitive information, and that appears to be the biggest reason why he wasn’t hired. Bruins Nation broke this dynamic down a few days ago well before Scott Wolf reported on a facebook issue that landed on the front page at CBSSports.com.
If Seto did put the news on his facebook page before the announcement was made, it was only a symptom of the problem, not the cause. Meanwhile, UCLA is still without a defensive coordinator, and now that National Signing Day has passed, there is less urgency to move swiftly.
